Process of making rims



Nov. 13, 192 8.

E. A. NELSON PROCESS OF MAKING RIMS Filed Feb. 25, 1924 I INVENTORi-EMILA;NLS0I VIU a 7 s Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

v UNITED sTATE f 1,691,491 PATENT; ornce.

EMIL a Nansen, or moron, rnnns tvamafassrenon T Bonn wn nn'i. con PANY,on PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,INCORPORATION or 'rnns'rmrnorPENNSYLVANIA.

. rnocnss'or mmemms.

Application flled l ebruary 25, 1924. serial'l 'o, 694,894.

My invention relates to an improved process of making rims and has todo, more particularly, with a new and improved process by means of whichrims for automobile wheels may be manufactured.

The chief object of my invention is to provide aprocess of makingautomobile wheel rims by means of which rims can be manufactured moreefliciently and at lower. cost 10 than heretofore.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process of making suchrims which utilizes a strip of metal of symmetrical cross section, whichcan be rolled conveniently at the rolling mill, and which avoids the useof extensive flanging operations after the rim has been formed. v

A further object of my invention is to provide a process of making rimsin which the cross section of the finished rim is imparted initially tothe strip of metal from which the rim is to made, so as to avoid anyflanging or forming operations after the strip has been welded intoannular form.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies ofconstruction and operation, will definitely appear from the de taileddescription to follow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of myinvention by the devices and means set forth in the followingspecification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in theappended claim. A process constituting a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in 'which- Fig. 1 shows a strip ,of metal formed inaccordance with my invention and welded to form an annulus from whichtwo rims, are

- to be formed, and 7 I Fig. 2 is a similar yiev. of a slightmodification.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same partsthroughout the several views. 7

In general, my invention consists in pr0- viding a strip of metal, whichmay be rolled, at the rolling mill, to a form having the cross sectionwhich isto be given to the finished rims, in bending a strip of metal ofthis cross section, and of suitable length, to form an annulus, theadjacent ends of said strip being welded together so that a completering is formed, and, then, severing this annulus along the central,longitudinal plane to form two cpmpleterims. In carrying out myinvention, I provide a strip of metal, having the cross-section shown inFig. 1, and com rising the parallel body portions, 10 an 11,

which lie in a single plane and are joined by the semicylindrical rib,12. At the. outer edges of the portions, 10 and 11, there are providedthe downwardly inclined portions, 13, from which extend the upwardlyextending flanges, 14. It willbe noted that this strip of metalv issymmetrical about the center line, and that there is a substantiallyequal disposition of metal above and below the plane of the portions, 10and 11. Consequently, this is a strip or bar of aformwhich can beproduced without difficulty by the rolling mill. .1 take a strip ofmetal, of this cross section and of the desired length, de-

pending upon the size of the rim to be formed,

and bend it around into a circle so that the free ends of this stripmeet. These free ends are then joined together, for instance, bybuttwelding, forming an annulus having the cross-section shown inFig. 1. I next sever this annulus into two similar parts by cuttingalong the line, 15, for instance, by circle shearing. This provides twocomplete rims of asymmetrical form as respects their central verticallongitudinal planes, each with a side flange, formed by the two halvesof the semicylindrieal rib, 12, and a gutter formed 'by the parts, 13and 14, which is adapted to receive a detachable side flange, By thismeans, I may produce two rims from a single strip of metal and it willnot be necessary to carry out any extensive flang ing or formingoperations after the rim has been brought to the circular form. TlllSmakes tor a more convenlent and economlcal production of these rims, andalso provides a rim which is strong and durable. 7

As shown in Fig. 2, I may provide a rib 16 between the portions 10 and11, which is severed at '17, as described, and afterwards subjected to aslight'forming operation to bend up the portions of the rib 16 so as toform the side flanges 18, as indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines. Thissubsequent flanglng operation is comparatively simple and inexpensive.

I am aware that the particular process described in this specificationmay be changed and varied considerably without departmg l0 op from thespirit of my invention and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, asindicated by the appended claim. 1

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new and useful anddesire to'secure by Letters Patent is '7 The process of makingasymmetrical rims having an upstanding fixed retaining flange on oneside and a depressed gutter on the in egral metal strip with a centralrib, plane portions on eachside of said rib constituting the body of therim, and gutters on the outer site side, comprising the forming of anedg f said plane portion wfl y 1 I metrical combined cross-section isdevised, into "circular" form,*j01n-i bending said strip ing the ends ofsaid strip toform an annulus,

and severing said annulusalong the central lineof said rib to formtwohcomplete, identlcal and mutually independent asymmetrical rims, eachadapted to retain a tire :u 'Qnthe seating of ade tachable flange i'n'te Tsaid gutter.

In witness whereof, I afiix my signature.

" EMIL A; Manson:

